Air Canada flight slides off Halifax runway
Posted March 29, 2015 7:24 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX (NEWS1130) – Air Canada says 18 of 23 people who were taken to Halifax-area hospitals after one of its planes skidded off a runway have been released.
It happened early today while the plane was landing during a snowstorm.
Air Canada says there were 133 passengers and five crew members aboard flight A-C-624.
There was conflicting information on the number of people injured shortly after the accident but Air Canada and the airport later said they verified 23 were taken to area hospitals.
None of the injuries were considered life threatening.
There was no indication from officials on whether the weather played a factor in the hard landing.
Passengers said they believe the aircraft hit a power line as it came in to land and described the plane skidding on its belly for some time before it came to a stop.
Airport spokesman Peter Spurway says two people who were taken to the hospital required “urgent care,” while the others were treated for bumps and bruises.
The power went off at the airport but Nova Scotia Power didn’t indicate why, just that it had been restored.
Air Canada declined to detail the condition of the plane but extensive damage was clearly visible to the jet’s nose, tail and one wing.
Passenger Randy Hall said the landing gear, at least one engine and a wing were ripped off.
Transportation Safety Board investigators are headed to the airport today.
The Canadian Press
